AACC Houston News

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SPECIAL NEWS

Former Star of Australia continues to contribute to Project Joy and Hope

Jan Wheeler, Executive Director of Project Joy and Hope, has another reason to be thankful for her "Australia" connection. Her father recently underwent a triple by-pass performed by a former Star of Australia Dr. Gerald Lawrie.
After the procedure was over, the two talked about the AACC and Project Joy and Hope connection. Dr. Lawrie still raves and is honored to have been recognized as a Star of Australia.
"He is amazing, compassionate, caring, and so so skilled. It was not a simple procedure, and he walked us through it with expertise and grace.He is a hero to me and my family, and Houston and Australia share such a wonderful surgeon...I believe it was no coincidence that our paths crossed in this way."

EVENTS

Pippin Drysdale Exhibit

Acclaimed Western Australian ceramics artist Pippin Drysdale's first major American solo exhibition will open to the public at the Australian Embassy, 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC, on Thursday, 11 February. The Embassy gallery is open 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, weekdays, and by appointment. The exhibition of more than 200 vessels and closed forms is presented in cooperation with Booker-Lowe Gallery, which represents the artist in the U.S.

These works are available for sale either individually or in complete tablescapes [works sold during the Embassy exhibition remain a part of the exhibition until it closes]. For more images and information please see www.pippindrysdaleusa.com or contact Booker-Lowe Gallery at 713.880.1541 or art@bookerlowegallery.com.

Following the Embassy exhibition, Booker-Lowe Gallery will bring a select group of tablescapes and vessels to Houston, beginning in late April.

Christmas Party 2009!

Our hosts, Greg and Beverly Foley will be roasting sausages and more on the barbie, but remember what your mother told you, "many hands make light work." If you care to volunteer just call the AACC office at 713-527-9688. Our party is BYOB.

When: Saturday, December 5, 6 p.m.
Where: 1119 E 6 ½ Street
Houston TX 77009

Networking on Tap with the BABC, the Energy Industries Council and the Australian-American Chamber of Commerce

Sponsored by The Bull and Bear, BABC, Energy Industries Council, TradeMark Insurance, Australian American Chamber of Commerce

When: Wednesday November 18 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM CST
Where: The Bull and Bear Tavern and Eatery
11980 Westheimer, Suite A,
Houston TX 77077 US

Get Directions

Join the members of the British-American Business Council and the EIC for an evening of networking and to welcome the new EIC regional manager, Kenley Clark. NOV 13 UDATE: MEMBERS OF THE AUSTRALIAN AMERICAN CHAMBER WILL BE JOINING US FOR THIS EVENT AS WELL

Bull and Bear, where a pint is a real 20 oz. pint, is home of the all day, every day $3.50 Guinness. They have lots of other great drink specials as well. B&B will be providing lite bites for the event. Cash bar available.

Bring your business cards and be prepared to meet some new faces! Door prize sponsored by TradeMark Insurance. We will also have a limited amount of promo t-shirts and movie posters for Pirate Radio.

This is a free event, however, we ask that you register so we can have numbers for food and a name tag for you.

Register

NEWS

Message from Nana Booker We have greatly appreciated your interest in the work of renowned Australian ceramics artist Pippin Drysdale. So we wanted to let you know the latest news about Pip and her plans for 2010.

In August, I visited Pip at her home and studio in Fremantle (a suburb of Perth, Western Australia) and had a wonderful time with her, her thrower ceramics artist Warwick Palmeter, and some of the area's leading arts luminaries and passionate collectors of her work. Pip has created a wealth of vessels and closed forms, glazed in her intricate signature style in stunning new palettes, and composed them in elegant tablescapes. This exciting work will be featured in her solo exhibition at the Australian Embassy in Washington, DC, beginning 12 February and running through 2 April 2010.

In addition, Pip was recently featured on the Australian Broadcasting Company's Sunday arts program, and again in the cover story of Ceramics: Art and Perception fall edition (Sept/Oct/Nov 2009). We have included an image of the magazine below, as attached the full article for you to enjoy. One of Pip's newest fans is the Duke of Devonshire, a serious collector of contemporary ceramics. The Duke acquired one of Pip's porcelain tablescapes, and is currently installing it at his ancestral English home, Chatsworth.

Unfortunately the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft is experiencing financial difficulties, which resulted in the recent cancellation of Pip's long-planned 2010 exhibition there.

However, we will not disappoint her Texas fans! Booker-Lowe Gallery will bring a collection of work from the Australian Embassy exhibition to Houston late next spring, so you will still have a chance to see and acquire her latest vessels and closed forms. Booker-Lowe will also host a "Pippin Drysdale USA" website, featuring the works for sale during and after the Australian Embassy show. Of course, we will keep you posted as we finalize our plans.

We appreciate your interest in Pippin Drysdale, and look forward to showing you the new work that confirms her place as one of the world's leading ceramics artists!

Click here for more information

Lord Mayor's Visit

Mayor White and Lord Mayor of Perth, Lisa Scaffidi, recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Sister Cities during a reception honoring the relationship between Houston and Perth, Australia. Shortly after the partnership began, the Australian American Chamber of Commerce (AACC) Houston was established to increase global cooperation and stimulate economic development between the U.S. and Australia.

Let's Travel Together Receives OPAL Award from Tourism Australia

The AACC would like to congratulate fellow members Let’s Travel Together on their achievement. Message from Billy Martin and Melodye Martinelli of Let’s Travel Togher:

"We would like to share with you the announcement of our winning an award a couple of weeks ago while attending a tourism conference in Australia. We were so honored to have won the prestigious OPAL award from Tourism Australia. We have and are working very hard in promoting Australia and sending many clients there for memorable experiences. 100% of these travelers have returned expressing the great time and pleasures from their many interesting experiences to the land of OZ. There are a total of 5 Opal awards that are given each year by the tourism board."

"We are so pleased that our business to both New Zealand and Australia continues to grow from these very satisfied clients giving us referrals from others also wishing to travel to Australia. The greatest pleasures they express from their travels are meeting the very friendly and outgoing fun loving Aussies and Kiwis."

"We appreciate your keeping us in mind when it comes to travel referrals."

Click here for more information

Fun

These were posted on an Australian Tourism Website, and the answers are the actual responses by the website officials, who obviously have a great sense of humour (not to mention a low tolerance threshold for cretins!)
Q: Does it ever get windy in Australia? I have never seen it rain on TV, how do the plants grow? ( UK )
A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around watching them die.

Q: Will I be able to see kangaroos in the street? ( USA )
A: Depends how much you've been drinking.

Q: I want to walk from Perth to Sydney - can I follow the railroad tracks? ( Sweden )
A: Sure, it's only three thousand miles, take lots of water.

Q: Are there any ATMs (cash machines) in Australia? Can you send me a list of them in Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville and Hervey Bay? ( UK )
A: What did your last slave die of?

Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Australia? ( USA )
A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe. Aus-tra-lia is that big island in the middle of the Pacific which does not ... oh, forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Kings Cross. Come naked.

Q: Which direction is North in Australia? ( USA )
A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees. Contact us when you get here and we'll send the rest of the directions.

Q: Can I bring cutlery into Australia? (UK )
A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do...

Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? (USA)
A: Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which is oh, forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Kings Cross, right after the hippo races. Come naked.

Q: Can I wear high heels in Australia? ( UK )
A: You are a British politician, right?

Q: Are there supermarkets in Sydney and is milk available all year round? (Germany)
A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of vegan hunter/gatherers. Milk is illegal.

Q: Please send a list of all doctors in Australia who can dispense rattlesnake serum. ( USA)
A: Rattlesnakes live in A-meri-ca which is where YOU come from. All Australian snakes are perfectly harmless, can be safely handled and make good pets.

Q: I have a question about a famous animal in Australia, but I forget its name. It's a kind of bear and lives in trees. ( USA )
A: It's called a Drop Bear. They are so called because they drop out of Gum trees and eat the brains of anyone walking underneath them. You can scare them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you go out walking.

Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Can you tell me where I can sell it in Australia? (USA )
A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.

Q: Can you tell me the regions in Tasmania where the female population is smaller than the male population? ( Italy )
A: Yes, gay night clubs.

Q: Do you celebrate Christmas on Australia? ( France )
A: Only at Christmas.

Q: Will I be able to speak English most places I go? ( USA )
A: Yes, but you'll have to learn it first.

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Tel:713-527-9688 · Fax:832-415-0545 · info@aacc-houston.org
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